Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service & ThunderPaws Boarding

07/08/2025

These are not just cats; these are the UPVS' support staff.
The ones who force you to acknowledge their presence. The ones who make you laugh because they just don't take 'no, you can't fit in my purse' for an answer.

They weigh themselves daily & sometimes multiple times per day. They have more hands put on them in a week than some cats have in a year. Like it or not, you notice them...

Recently, I had 2 calls from 2 new clients about their sick cats. Both were exhibiting abnormal behaviors at home, hiding, not eating or drinking normally. When I asked when they'd had their last wellness exam, neither had had one for years-- they'd been healthy, until now. I explained the difficulties meeting a new patient and assessing their illness when you've not ever seen them when they were well. What may seem abnormal on exam, might actually be their normal.
For example, today, a cat who I see annually gave me the same attitude she always does--I do still have all my fingers & she did successfully get vaccinated--but had she not thrown her fit, I'd have been concerned.

Take home point, (bi)annual WELLNESS exams are not money wasted. Veterinarians utilized them to notice changes in weight, oral health, heart/lung function, discuss behavioral changes, inquire about water intake and output, gastrointestinal regularity, etc.

Waiting until something 'isn't right', especially with cats, often leaves us wondering--so what really is bothering you?!?

07/08/2025

The reason I no longer declaw cats...

🐾 PAWS NEED CLAWS - PLEASE SHARE 🐾

Last year I got my most painful tattoo as a permanent example of what you are doing when you declaw a cat. Today, one of our poor declawed feline friends bit me. She got me pretty good too. I can't say I blame her, though! She had no idea I was trying to move her to a much bigger, more comfy kennel, so when I tried to pick her up, instead of a warning with her claws like most cats would, she bit me.
Her first line of defense (her claws) is gone.
She always feels more vulnerable because of this.
She hasn't had any issues (yet), but declawed cats are also much more likely to have litter box issues. Who can blame them if using the box hurts their poor feet?

Cats walk on their toes, so when they are declawed (even as kittens) they have to relearn how to walk, and are always walking on an amputation. It's not natural. Is it any wonder why they often end up with arthritis?


If you can't deal with the claws, please don't get a cat.

If you have trouble with a cat scratching, ensure they have enough scratching posts and the appropriate types. Also, consider using nail caps. Nail caps prevent scratching, and allow for normal movement of their nails. They have to be reapplied, and you must keep an eye on them to make sure they shed with their nails, but they are SO much better than permanently harming your poor cat. You can even just use them while you are training them to use scratching posts!

If you need any tips or tricks on getting your cat to stop scratching where they aren't supposed to, PLEASE REACH OUT!!! As an ABC Certified Cat Trainer, I am happy to help however I can.

- Rebecca, the cat lady

06/26/2025

UPVS reminders:
☆We are an office of 2 people and with high frequency during the summertime, SOMETIMES only 1. We are fully transparent about this as we explain all of our business policies and operations, including payment, scheduling, etc.

☆The client/patient, with time reserved for them, deserves our undivided attention. I, as the doctor, working solo, will not interrupt a scheduled appointment to answer the phone.

☆Our voicemail is lengthy--it tells you where we are for the day; it answers many potential client questions, it advises you what steps to take if you have an emergency, etc. Please do NOT hang up and call back immediately, expecting someone should be able to answer the phone. Leave a message as prompted, and we will call you back.

☆Client voicemails are deleted ONLY after returning calls. If we must, we will leave a return voicemail message. If there is no voicemail set up or it is full, we can not keep trying to reach you. There are days when we play lots of phone tag because of our surgery, in office, or on the road schedule. We do our best to return non urgent calls within 2 business days.

☆Patience--unless you have an emergency, it may be hours before we can call you back. Calling around & Vet hopping because you feel we don't care couldn't be further from the truth! We are not choosing to ignore you; we're just BUSY. We are focusing on the client/patient we are caring for standing in front of us--Wouldn't you would want the same attention to detail for your furred friend...?

06/26/2025

Have treated... ate food from a picnic that had been spilled at beach home...

🚨 Sand Colic in Dogs: A Beach Day Danger 🐾
�As emergency veterinarians, we see it more often than you'd think—dogs ending up in the ER after a fun day at the beach due to sand ingestion.

🧱 What is sand colic?�When dogs swallow too much sand—often while playing fetch, digging, or eating treats at the beach—it can accumulate in the intestines, which can lead to painful GI blockages.

⚠️ Symptoms to watch for:
* Vomiting or retching
* Abdominal pain (restlessness, whining, tense belly)
* Constipation or straining
* Lethargy or refusal to eat

🩺 It can turn serious quickly.�If you notice these signs after a beach trip, call your vet or head to an emergency clinic right away.

✅ Tips to prevent sand colic:
* Avoid throwing toys directly into sand
* Rinse off toys and balls often
* Don’t feed meals directly on the beach
* Offer fresh water frequently to discourage sand-eating

Beach days are meant to be fun—let’s keep them that way! 🏖️🐶

06/24/2025

Had to apologize to my afternoon appt as delivering this calf at home became my priority...

06/20/2025

Yup, you guessed it--another tick post...

You know what kills ticks in the environment--fire. Compared to when we lived downstate, people here don't 'burn' ditch banks/road sides. And that's because it is high risk with dry conditions so there always seems a burn ban. But places like those & these are perfectly ideal location for ticks. Ticks crawl up the tall grass & quest, waiting for something to come by they can grab onto & away they go...

Just recently, the Asian Longhorn tick also known as the cattle tick was found downstate--the uniqueness of this tick, is the female doesn't need a male to lay fertile eggs. Left unchecked it will cause significant debilitation to our livestock.

If you've not already, initiate a protection process for yourself & furred friends!

06/14/2025

...

There's something about the dog who's been there since before you had kids.

They've been through it all:

The excitement + nervousness of seeing those two pink lines for the first time.

The final week before baby when they could sense everything was about to change and wouldn't leave your side.

The homecoming of your little one(s), when their heart grew to allow ten more little toes to become their new person.

How their devotion never wavered through postpartum struggles when you questioned everything and didn't recognize the face staring back at you in the mirror.

The way they became protector and guardian as their kids began to play and explore the world around them.

How the fur around their eyes has turned white and their bodies move more slowly but they're still always nearby with those gentle eyes and happy tail thumps.

They've watched you grow and change as your family grew and changed, and they've loved all of you without fail every single minute of the journey.

We don't deserve these old dogs, but we're so infinitely blessed to have them.

© Casey Huff

02/17/2025

"OUT OF THE OFFICE":
This message does NOT mean we're enjoying a far away vacation and you should call around to other offices.

It means we:
- also have medical appointments
- need to attend a sporting event
- have to meet with our accountant
- are helping shear sheep
- have to go get feed for the farm
- are committing the day to ourselves for family togetherness time
- etc, etc, etc

However, in the event of an emergency we do our best to accommodate & prioritize that need in the midst of life.
So... if you call and get the voicemail that says 'we're out of the office', & you don't have an urgent situation please practice understanding and patience. Leave us a message and we will give you a call on the next business day we're back in the office.

02/15/2025

Just letting you know if you still owe someone a Valentine's present--oops!... you can just tell them their Girl Scout cookies are on order!!!
Stop in or drop us a note below to get your order placed!
💜~Maple